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MP searched by police hits at 'random' use of law
Peter Dominiczak24 Mar 2009
A LABOUR MP today revealed how police searched him outside the Houses of Parliament under anti-terror legislation as he launched a scathing attack on the "random use" by officers to "harass" the public.
John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, was stopped in his car by police on Friday, using their stop and search powers.
Mr McDonnell, who was suspended for five days from the Commons in January after grabbing the mace in protest at the Heathrow expansion, said the powers were not being used "selectively" as Parliament intended.
In a point of order, Mr McDonnell said: "When I left the session of Parliament on Friday and passed through Parliament Square into Birdcage Walk, I was detained by police on a stop and search, on the basis of the anti-terrorist legislation.
"This follows from only a few weeks ago, in part of our campaign against the third runway, one of our campaigners who was simply taking photographs of the properties that will be demolished was detained and searched under the legislation.
"This is becoming a random use of this power, which is affecting Members of this House and our constituents in a way that is in complete contradiction to the way we legislated for the selective use of these powers - to prevent terrorism, rather than to harass MPs and the community."
Deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord said it was not immediately a matter for the chair. He said: "But your points are firmly on record and I'm sure Mr Speaker will take note of them."
Reader views (10)
Rather hypocritical of this Mp as its his party of power control freaks who have turned this country into a police state! How does it feel to be treated like the rest of us ? Very typical Nu Lab reaction to a problem they create!
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand, 25/03/2009 00:12
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I believe that young black men are frequently searched by Police, so why shouldn't an MP be?
- John, London, 24/03/2009 17:09
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that's grand then,the lawmakers have finally twigged that the peelers are using the questionable laws dream t up by the politicos randomly and often with ill intent.
the politically neutral strong arm of law enforcement has always appeared to have hidden agendas and been a touch arbitrary in the selection and application of that they deem acceptable to investigate.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 24/03/2009 17:01
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"Mr McDonnell,......said the powers were not being used "selectively" as Parliament intended."- The Police are not allowed to use these powers "selectively", otherwise they would only be stopping Muslims and Irish republicans. as they are the only source of the prevailing terrorist threat. This is why we are all treated as terroist suspects by his pernicious government, especially when travelling.
McDonnell and the army of PC Commissars that his party sponsors cannot have it both ways.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 24/03/2009 16:48
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Well and good, or does he think there's one law for us, and one for them, that is, when they are not actually above the law.
If he doesn't like it, he should campaign to get the law changed, but also get rid of all the undesirables that are here in Britain as a result of Liebore's lax border and immigration controls. Not to mention that he is party to bliar's attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan which - despite what bliar delusionally claimed - has definitely created more recruits and (potential) terrorists.
- Ralph, GB, 24/03/2009 16:37
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You reap what you sow. All Labour MPs who support Blair & Broon are traitors and all those who voted these lightweights in THREE TIMES deserve to live in the wasteland that is now England. I'm out and won't be coming back. I just feel sorry for the tories who will have to clean this mess up.
- Keith Price, Leaving the sinking ship England, 24/03/2009 15:52
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I echo Derek: MPs sold our rights and freedoms for a place on a commons committee and a few grand on their expenses. How they have shamed themselves now that they can see what they have done. We will NEVER get those freedoms back without the kind of bloody struggle the English people exerted on the monarchy all those centuries ago.
- Neil M., london uk,, 24/03/2009 14:36
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Why has this made the press?We are all subject to the law set by Parliament-I imagine anyone around that area has a high risk of being searched or do we want an additional date for a second Guy Fawkes.
- Harvey Lawrence, London, 24/03/2009 13:59
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The legislation allows the police to designate areas where the stop and search can apply. I'd have thought that in the run up to G20 that the security servies would be on heightened alert.
The very nature of random stop and search is that it is genuinely random.
I'm wondering what it is that McDonnell is actually complaining about? Maybe he thinks that the law of the land and the powers of the police should not apply to him.
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 24/03/2009 11:17
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Ha ha, now he knows what it feels like. If Labour MPs like him hadn't supported this fascist government, he wouldn't have been stopped would he?
- Derek, London, 24/03/2009 10:48
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